Original fan photos of Johnny Vander Meer's 2nd consec no-hitter- 1st night game NY

[Scott Garner]

I just recently acquired 4 very rare original B/W fan photos from Johnny Vander's historic 2nd consecutive no-hitter which was also the first night game at Ebbet's Field on June 15, 1938. All photos were shot with a 35mm camera and are 4' x 6" in size.

As background, very few photos exist to this game. To find four that were shot from a fan's perspective is exceedingly rare. The lucky fan that attended this game sat directly behind the Brooklyn Dodgers dugout.

The photos feature:
1) Brooklyn Dodgers players out on the field to watch the Drum and Bugle Corp celebration event that immediately preceded the game. Olympic hero Jesse Owens was the honored guest in celebration of the 1st night game ever at Ebbet's Field. BTW, does anyone recognize any of the Dodgers players in the foreground?

2) The postgame celebration following the last pitch of Vandy's no-hitter. Fans stormed the field and what you see is Vander Meer surrounded by crazed fans as he literally had to be escorted off the field.

Although the hometown Dodgers were Vandy's victims that night, he was very much considered a local hero having grown up not far away in Midland Park, NJ. Over 500 people from Midland Park and Patterson, NJ were in attendance that night to honor Vandy before the game for his no-hitter on 6/11/38. During this ceremony he received a Key to the City of Midland Park from the mayor. It's important to note that Vander Meer, being Dutch, was a hero to the many people of Dutch heritage that transplanted to the NY and NJ region when they first settled in the US.

3) A downtrodden Brooklyn Dodgers team sulking back to their dugout after the game.

4) The last photo is an interesting one!! Anyone care to guess who the person is in the light colored suit and dark tan at the bottom left that is walking across the field to greet to Dodgers players out in front of the Brooklyn dugout?

Hint: His presence was historic as the Dodgers made a major announcement regarding him in the upcoming days following Vandy's no-hitter.